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Dear John,
Last November, 16 people were killed when a canopy collapsed at Serbia’s Novi Sad train station. What might have been seen as an unfortunate accident in another country was, in Serbia, just the latest and most horrifying consequence of a political system in which corrupt elites enrich themselves at the expense of the public and its interests.
In response, we have seen ordinary citizens take to the streets, creating Serbia’s largest protest movement in years. Rather than addressing these legitimate grievances, authorities have disappointingly sought to suppress dissent through smear campaigns, police raids, and crackdowns on independent media.
Click below to learn more about why the Serbian protests are part of a much larger reckoning that is unfolding across Southeastern Europe, as citizens are demanding systemic reforms to ensure accountability and prevent further tragedies.
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Freedom in the World 2025 Policy Recommendations
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Global freedom declined for the 19th consecutive year in 2024, underscoring the need for democracies to demonstrate basic solidarity and counter authoritarian reach. Learn more about this and other recommendations from Freedom in the World.
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